It’s a tough town and as they say anything can happen in a New York minute. There was hype, there was hope and there was heartbreak as everyone’s favourite chestnut failed to cross the line first in the 2014 Belmont Stakes.
Directly after the race jockey Victor Espinoza commented “As soon as he came out of the gate he was not the same. By the five-eighths pole he was just empty. Turning for home I was just waiting to have the same kick like he always had before, and today he was a little flat down the lane. He ran back-to-back races at different tracks–and all those fresh horses.”
Caught in the heat of the moment directly after the race, there were also some strong comments from co-owner Steve Coburn, but it seems the colt’s disappointing run (if running joint 4th in the Belmont Stakes can be deemed ‘disappointing’), may have a more pedestrian explanation.
Victor Espinoza said he thought Chrome might have stepped on himself breaking from the starting gates, saying “I noticed when I jumped off him he was bleeding a little bit in the right front. Maybe that affected him.”
Subsequent examination confirmed that California Chrome had cut into himself and footage of the colt breaking from the stalls suggests that the culprit may even have been neighbouring contender, Matterhorn. Whether the injury was severe enough to curtail his chances is a topic of hot debate, but the good news is that the injury is minor and the colt should make a full recovery.
Chrome’s team sent an update via their Facebook this morning: “Thank you to everyone for every thought and prayer that have been sent California Chrome’s way. Chrome walked shed row this morning and was quite full of himself, feeling good despite the events of yesterday. His foot is being well taken care of and he’s being kept very comfortable. The team’s only concern is getting him home to California to let him have the time to heal and relax for a time before deciding anything else. Chrome will board a van around noon today to begin his journey home. This champion is still a champion! Thank you for all the love!”
For a pictorial summary of the day’s events, click on the link below (courtesy of the Paulick Report and Absorbine):-
